November 15, 2012

Israel Extends Air Strikes on Gaza, Hamas Retaliates

Israel Extends Air Strikes on Gaza, Hamas Retaliates

November 15, 2012

ABC News - Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip stretched into another day as Hamas and other militant groups retaliated, the latest escalation of violence between the two sides that followed Israel's assassination Wednesday of Hamas' top military commander.

Three Israelis were killed in the southern town of Kiryat Malakhi by rocket fire this morning. These are the first Israeli deaths in this escalation.

Israel's Air Force has hit more than 150 targets across Gaza since the operation, dubbed "Pillar of Defense," began Wednesday evening. The first strike was on Ahmed Jabari, the chief of staff of the military wing of Hamas, the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades. It was followed by a wave of airstrikes on other militants, buildings and installations, notably launching sites and rockets, which included the long-range Fajar rockets that could reach Tel Aviv.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups have retaliated with almost 200 rockets fired into southern Israel, according to Israel's military. At least three Israelis were killed in the southern town of Kiryat Malakhi when a rocket hit an apartment building.

Hamas sources said a dozen Palestinians have been killed, including at least two children.
"We are still at the beginning of the event, not at the end, and we expect some complicated tests ahead," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in a nationally televised address Monday night, standing next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel has warned that it is ready to enlarge the operation with a ground operation and reservists have been called up.

Israeli officials say the operation is in response to more than 800 rockets that have landed in Israel this year. Barak laid out the four goals of "Pillar of Defense": to strengthen deterrence, damage the rocket launching network, hit Hamas and its allies and to minimize the damage in Israel.
"We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead," the Israel Defense Forces tweeted Monday night.
Hamas warned that Israel will pay a heavy price for Jabari's assassination, its armed wing saying Israel had "opened the gates of hell."

Thousands gathered for Jabari's funeral Tuesday morning as rockets continued to be fired into Israel. Some were intercepted by Israel's oft-touted Iron Dome anti-missile shield.

Israel Defense Forces released black and white aerial video of the strike on Jabari's car, as well as on Hamas' Iranian-made Fajar rockets, with a range of around 50 miles.
"Once again the international community is witness to Israel's malicious onslaught, using the most lethal military means and illegal measures against the defenseless Palestinian civilian population," the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, said.
In past flare-ups, Egypt has brokered fragile ceasefires, but that appeared unlikely Tuesday morning. Egypt has recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Hamas announced this morning that Jabari's deputy, Marwan Issa, would take Jabari's place as de facto commander.

U.N. chief urges Israel, Hamas to avoid escalating Gaza violence

November 14, 2012

Reuters - The U.N. chief on Wednesday called on Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants to prevent an escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas controls, and urged both sides to ensure civilians will be protected, a U.N. spokesman said. "The Secretary-General calls for an immediate de-escalation of tensions," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said, adding that it was a reiteration of Ban's already-stated position."Both sides should do everything to avoid further escalation and they must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians at all times," he told reporters.

Qatar wants Israel punished for Gaza attacks

November 15, 2012

Reuters - Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani on Wednesday condemned the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip that killed Hamas's top military commander and at least six other Palestinians and said they should not go unpunished.
"I condemn in the name of Qatar... This filthy crime must not pass without a punishment," Sheikh Hamad told journalists after a meeting in the Saudi capital between Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers and their Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss Syria.

"The U.N. Security Council must shoulder its responsibilities in preserving peace and security in the world."

Egypt FM calls on U.S. to end Israeli assault on Gaza

Reuters - Egypt's Foreign Minister Kamel Amr has called on the United States to intervene and end "Israeli aggression" on the Gaza Strip, state media reported on Thursday.

Amr "requested that the United States immediately intervene to stop Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza", MENA news agency reported, adding that Amr spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by telephone.

Iran condemns Israel's Gaza strikes as "terrorism"

November 15, 2012

Reuters - Iran condemned on Thursday as "organized terrorism" an offensive by Israel against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
"Iran considers the criminal act of Israeli military forces in killing civilians as organized terrorism and strongly condemns it," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
The spokesman also criticized what he called "the silence of international organizations claiming to defend human rights," following the strikes.

Israel killed the military commander of Hamas on Wednesday in an air strike on Gaza and threatened an invasion of the enclave.

The Islamist group retaliated on Thursday by firing dozens of rockets into southern Israel, killing three people.

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